The case is being watched closely by some who fear any fallout could inevitably impact them. Pandit Prithipal, another well-known service provider in the GTA, said roughly 200-300 people are currently practicing astrology to help clients in different ways. Apart from South Asians, communities from the Caribbean, Europe, Africa and elsewhere also offer parallel services. Sgt Shah agreed there are other people who are also offering the same kind of services, but said: “We cannot act unless we have a complaint.”

I covered this story last Friday, and noted then that the accused perpetrators were caught and charged with existing laws against fraud, making this additional charge nothing more than a sensationalist addition that could have far-reaching implications if allowed to stand. When you start to think about the variety of services and practices being offered from different cultures in Canada, the cast net of possible future “witchcraft” charges seems to grow uncomfortable large.

“Scott Robb could have a devil of a time winning a seat in October’s civic election. The 31-year-old security officer is the founder of the Darkside Collective, which he believes is the first Canadian-based satanic church. “I have been a practising Satanist since 1996. I briefly joined the Church of Satan in San Francisco in 1997 and quit there in February 2000 and started my own church.” Robb, one of five Ward 4 [Edmonton] council candidates, compared his group’s beliefs to psychological improvement or Buddhism rather than the occult activities of popular culture.”

“Since the Teochew people believe that men should not worship the moon, the ceremony was held exclusively for females and children, with the ritual conducted by the women’s wing of the Teochew Clanhouse … Organising chairman Huang Chun Long said they were doing their best to promote the worshipping of the Goddess of Moon and celebrating the mid-autumn festival in a bid to remind the public of the traditional Chinese customs, especially among young people.”

According to a government official, this is the first time such an event was held in Kluang. One wonders what the social and cultural ramification are of reviving the worship of Chang’e?

“For some people, the news raised questions about whether O’Donnell is fit for duty as a senator, especially a conservative one. But for other people, there’s a broader issue: the effect of O’Donnell’s comments on witches and Wiccans.”

So it seems that where Pagans are out, active, and an economic force, they can be a viable political candidate as well. While other Pagan communities don’t have to be as flamboyant as Salem, we could all certainly look at all the things they have done right in forging an identity and community there. I would be fascinated to see the results for such a poll in Paganistan or the Bay Area, I have a feeling they would be similar.